SC to hear Lalu's plea in disproportionate assets case tomorrow

Published: Thursday, July 31, 2008, 17:39 [IST]

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New Delhi, Jul 31 (UNI) The Supreme Court will hear tomorrow the petition filed by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and CBI challenging the Patna High Court order refusing to hear them in the disproportionate assets case.

Mr Prasad and his wife were acquitted by a special judge in a corruption case and the CBI did not challenge their aqcuittal.

Nitish Kumar Government, however, appealed in the Patna High Court against the acquittal.

Mr Prasad and Ms Rabri Devi filed an application in the High Court saying that since CBI was the prosecuting agency , State of Bihar was not competent to challenge their acquittal and they also prayed to the High Court to implead them as respondents in the appeal and hear them before proceeding further.

The High Court, however, declined to entertain the application and admitted the appeal of Bihar Government for hearing.

Initially, Mr Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi filed a petition before the Supreme Court but later the CBI also came to the Supreme Court in support of the two RJD leaders from Bihar.

The RJD leaders are facing allegations of acquiring assets beyond their known sources of income through corrupt means by misusing their official status as public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act.